Image pickup apparatus, control method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image pickup apparatus includes a finder unit configured to enable visual confirmation of an object image; a display unit located outside of the finder unit; and a control unit configured to control a display time for a first image acquired in a first shooting operation to be longer than a display time for a second image acquired in a second shooting operation in a case where a plurality of images is sequentially displayed on the display unit as a review display after continuous shooting is performed, the plurality of images being captured in the continuous shooting for continuously performing a plurality of shooting operations including at least the first shooting operation and the second shooting operation in response to a shooting instruction, the second shooting operation being performed after the first shooting operation.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to imaging and, moreparticularly, to an image pickup apparatus, a control method, and astorage medium, and more particularly, to a technique for displaying animage for confirmation after continuous shooting is performed.

Description of the Related Art

Continuous shooting for continuously capturing a plurality of images isknown. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-129670 discloses a method inwhich images are displayed on a display unit located on a rear surfaceof a camera in the order in which the images are captured when user'seyes approaching an eye proximity unit are not detected after continuousshooting is performed in a state where the user is looking into afinder.

In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-129670, ifthe user's eyes approaching the finder is not detected and images aredisplayed in the order in which the images are captured by continuousshooting, there is a possibility that display of the images is startedbefore a user can see the images on the display unit on the rear surfaceof the camera after the user's eyes approaching the finder are notdetected. For example, a first captured image is reproduced first, andthus it is highly likely that the image may be switched to a secondimage while the user is keeping his/her eyes away from the finder, andthe user may overlook the first image. An image pickup apparatusincluding no eyepiece sensor cannot detect a state where user's eyes areapproaching the finder. Accordingly, if the display of an image forconfirmation is started upon completion of continuous shooting, it ishighly likely that the user may overlook the first captured image.

SUMMARY

In view of the above-described comments, the present disclosure isdirected to reducing the likelihood of overlooking an image in a displayof an image for confirmation after shooting after continuous shooting isperformed.

According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, an imagepickup apparatus includes a finder unit configured to enable visualconfirmation of an object image, a display unit located outside of thefinder unit, and a control unit configured to control a display time fora first image acquired in a first shooting operation to be longer than adisplay time for a second image acquired in a second shooting operationin a case where a plurality of images is sequentially displayed on thedisplay unit as a review display after continuous shooting is performed,the plurality of images being captured in the continuous shooting forcontinuously performing a plurality of shooting operations including atleast the first shooting operation and the second shooting operation inresponse to a shooting instruction, the second shooting operation beingperformed after the first shooting operation.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are outline views each illustrating a digital camera asan example of a device to which a configuration of the present exemplaryembodiment can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adigital camera as an example of the device to which the configuration ofthe present exemplary embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting process in the presentexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a continuous shooting REC reviewprocess in the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating, in chronological order, a case wherecontinuous shooting is performed in a state where a user is looking intoa finder according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating, in chronological order, a case wherecontinuous shooting is performed in a state where a live view image isdisplayed on a display unit on a rear surface of a camera according tothe present exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams each illustrating a modified example of thepresent exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B each illustrate an outline view of a digital camera 100as an example of an apparatus to which the present disclosure can beapplied. FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100.FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the digital camera 100. Referringto FIGS. 1A and 1B, a display unit 28 is a display unit that displaysimages and various pieces of information, and is provided on a rearsurface of a camera. A shutter button 61 is an operation unit forperforming a shooting instruction. A mode selection switch 60 is anoperation unit for switching various modes. A terminal cover 40 is acover for protecting a connector (not illustrated) for a connectioncable or the like for connecting a connection cable to be connected toan external device and the digital camera 100. A main electronic dial 71is a rotary operation member included in an operation unit 70. Turningthe main electronic dial 71 enables changing setting values such as ashutter speed and diaphragm settings. A power switch 72 is an operationmember for turning on or off the power supply of the digital camera 100.A sub electronic dial 73 is a rotary operation member included in theoperation unit 70 and enables moving a selection frame and imagefeeding. A directional pad 74 is a directional pad (four-way operationkey) included in the operation unit 70. The left, right, top, and bottomportions of the directional pad 74 can be pressed. Operationscorresponding to pressed portions of the directional pad 74 arepossible. A SET button 75 is a push button included in the operationunit 70. The SET button 75 is mainly used to determine a selection item.

A lens unit 150 is a lens unit including a lens.

A finder 76 (finder unit) is configured to enable visual confirmation ofan object image by a user who looks into the finder. The finder 76 maybe an optical finder or an electronic viewfinder. When an optical finderis used as the finder 76, observation through a focusing screen enablesconfirmation a focus or composition of an optical image of a subjectobtained through the lens unit 150. When an electronic viewfinder isused as the finder 76, the finder 76 can perform live view image display(through display). Note that the finder 76 includes an eye proximitydetection sensor 77 and can detect an object approaching the finder 76by a predetermined distance or more. In other words, the eye proximitydetection sensor 77 can detect that the user is looking into the finder76.

The rear surface of the digital camera 100 located outside of the finder76 is provided with the display unit 28, which enables display of a liveview image, a menu screen, and the like.

An LV button 78 is a button that is included in the operation unit 70and switches ON and OFF of a live view (hereinafter “LV”) in a stillshooting mode. Specifically, when an optical finder is used as thefinder 76, which is described below, display of the live view image onthe display unit 28, which is located on the rear surface of the digitalcamera, and display of an optical image through the finder 76 can beswitched. When an electronic viewfinder is used as the finder 76,display of the live view image on the display unit within the finder anddisplay of the live view image on the display unit 28 on the rearsurface of the digital camera can be switched.

A playback button 79 is a button that is included in the operation unit70 and switches between a shooting mode and a playback mode. When theplayback button 79 is pressed in the shooting mode, the mode is shiftedto the playback mode, which enables display of a latest image among theimages recorded in the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28. Inthe playback mode, images captured by continuous shooting can bedisplayed, instead of displaying images captured by single shooting.However, in the playback mode, the same display time for any one of thecaptured images (in the case of slide show display for automaticallyswitching display images), or the image to be displayed can be switchedby a switch instruction from the user.

The units described throughout the present disclosure are exemplaryand/or preferable modules for implementing processes described in thepresent disclosure. The modules can be hardware units (such ascircuitry, a field programmable gate array, a digital signal processor,an application specific integrated circuit or the like) and/or softwaremodules (such as a computer readable program or the like). The modulesfor implementing the various steps are not described exhaustively above.However, where there is a step of performing a certain process, theremay be a corresponding functional module or unit (implemented byhardware and/or software) for implementing the same process. Technicalsolutions by all combinations of steps described and units correspondingto these steps are included in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of thedigital camera 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thelens unit 150 is a lens unit incorporating an exchangeable shootinglens.

The lens 103 is generally composed of a plurality of lens. In this case,however, one lens is illustrated for ease of illustration.

An AE sensor 17 measures the brightness of a subject through the lensunit 150.

A focus detection unit 11 outputs defocus amount information to a systemcontrol unit 50. The system control unit 50 controls the lens unit 150based on the defocus amount information, and performs a phase differenceAF.

A quick-return mirror 12 (hereinafter referred to as the mirror 12) ismoved up and down by an actuator, which is not illustrated, according toan instruction from the system control unit 50 during exposure, liveview image capturing, and moving image capturing. The mirror 12 is amirror for switching a light beam entering the lens 103 to a finder 76side and an image pickup unit 22 side. The mirror 12 is disposed toguide and reflect the light beam onto the finder 76 during a normaloperation. In the case of capturing images, or live view display, themirror is moved upward so as to guide the light beam to the image pickupunit 22 and retreats from the light beam (mirror up). The mirror 12 is ahalf mirror that allows a part of light to transmit a central part ofthe mirror, and allows a part of the light beam to enter the focusdetection unit 11 for detecting a focus.

When an optical finder is used, a photographer observes a focusingscreen 13 through a pentaprism 14 and the finder 76, thereby enablingconfirmation of a focus or composition of an optical image of a subjectobtained through the lens unit 150.

The shutter 101 is a focal plane shutter capable of freely controllingan exposure time of the image pickup unit 22 by control of the systemcontrol unit 50.

The image pickup unit 22 is an image sensor composed of a CCD, a CMOSelement, or the like that convers an optical image into an electricsignal. An A/D (analog to digital) converter 23 converts an analogsignal into a digital signal. The A/D converter 23 is used forconverting the analog signal output from the image pickup unit 22 into adigital signal.

An image processing unit 24 performs predetermined pixel interpolation,resize processing, such as reduction, and color conversion processing ondata from the A/D converter 23 or data from the memory control unit 15.Further, the image processing unit 24 performs a predeterminedcalculation process using captured image data, and the system controlunit 50 performs exposure control and range finding control based on theobtained calculation result. Thus, a TTL (Through The Lens) autofocus(AF) process, an auto exposure (AE) process, and a flash preliminaryemission (EF) process are carried out. The image processing unit 24further performs a predetermined calculation process using capturedimage data, and a TTL AWB (automatic white balance) process based on theobtained calculation result. Output data from the A/D converter 23 isdirectly written into a memory 32 through the image processing unit 24and the memory control unit 15, or through the memory control unit 15.The memory 32 stores image data that is obtained by the image pickupunit 22 and converted into digital data by the A/D converter 23, orimage data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32includes a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predeterminednumber of still images, and moving images and voices for a predeterminedtime.

The D/A (digital to analog) converter 19 converts data for image displaystored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analogsignal to the display unit 28. In this manner, the image data fordisplay that is written into the memory 32 is displayed on the displayunit 28 through the D/A converter 19. The display unit 28 performsdisplay according to the analog signal from the D/A converter 19 on adisplay device such as an LCD. Digital signals that are subjected to A/Dconversion once by the A/D converter 23 and are accumulated in thememory 32 are converted into an analog signal in the D/A converter 19and are sequentially transferred and displayed on the display unit 28,thereby making it possible to function as an electronic viewfinder andperform a through image display (live view display). Further, when anelectronic viewfinder is used as the finder, the display of an imagesubjected to an analog conversion, like in the display unit 28, enableslive view image display.

A nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable/recordable memory.For example, an EEPROM is used as the nonvolatile memory 56. Thenonvolatile memory 56 stores a constant, a program, and the like foroperation of the system control unit 50. The term “program” describedherein refers to a program for executing various flowcharts, which aredescribed below, in the present exemplary embodiment.

The system control unit 50 is a control unit and may include at leastone processor, at least one memory, circuitry, firmware, hardware, othercomponent, or the like, and may control the entire digital camera 100.Processes in the present exemplary embodiment described below may beimplemented by executing the programs recorded in the nonvolatile memory56 described above. For example, the system control unit 50 or othercircuitry may read one or more programs, instructions, codes, or thelike, stored in one or more memories, and then execute the programs,instructions, codes, or the like, to implement operations of one or moreaspects of the present disclosure. A RAM may be used as the systemmemory 52. A constant and a variable for operation of the system controlunit 50, and a program and the like read out from the nonvolatile memory56 are loaded into the RAM. The system control unit 50 also performsdisplay control by controlling the memory 32, the D/A converter 19, thedisplay unit 28, and the like.

The system timer 53 is a clocking unit that measures the time used forvarious control operations, or the time of an incorporated clock.

The mode selection switch 60 (selectively) switches the operation modeof the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode(single shooting mode), a moving shooting mode, a continuous shootingmode, a self-timer shooting mode, and the like.

A first shutter switch 62 is turned on when the shutter button 61, whichis provided on the digital camera 100 is operated halfway, so-calledhalf-pressed (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a firstshutter switch signal SW1. The first shutter switch signal SW1 startsthe operation of an autofocus (AF) process, an auto exposure (AE)process, an automatic white balance (AWB) process, a flash preliminaryemission (EF) process, or the like.

A second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the shutter button 61 isfully operated, so-called fully-pressed (shooting instruction), andgenerates a second shutter switch signal SW2. The second shutter switchsignal SW2 allows the system control unit 50 to start the operation of aseries of shooting processes from reading of the signal from the imagepickup unit 22 to writing of the image data into the recording medium200.

A continuous shooting operation (continuous shooting) is carried out ina period in which the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated, andthe continuous shooting operation ends when the generation of the secondshutter switch signal SW2 is stopped. In the continuous shootingoperation, the number of captured images increases as the period inwhich the shutter button 61 is pressed increases. In the continuousshooting operation, settings of a focus position and exposure for thefirst shooting are fixed until the last shooting is finished. In thecontinuous shooting operation, the user can set up to 200 images to becaptured. The speed of the continuous shooting operation can be set to,for example, one to 14 images per second.

The operation unit 70 includes various operation members each serving asan input unit that receives a user's operation. The operation unit 70includes at least the following operation units: the shutter button 61,the main electronic dial 71, the power switch 72, the sub electronicdial 73, the directional pad 74, the SET button 75, the LV button 78,and the playback button 79.

A power supply control unit 80 is composed of a battery detectingcircuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching blocks to beenergized, and the like, and detects the presence or absence of mountingof a battery, the type of a battery, and a remaining battery capacity.Further, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converterbased on the detection result and an instruction from the system controlunit 50, and supplies each unit including the recording medium 200 witha desired voltage for a desired period.

The power supply unit 30 is composed of a primary battery, such as analkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery, such as anNiCd battery, an NiMH battery, or an Li battery, an AC adapter, or thelike. The power switch 72 is a switch that accepts an operation forturning on or off the power of the digital camera 100.

The recording medium I/F 18 is an interface with the recording medium200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is arecording medium such as a memory card for recording captured images,and is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

A shooting process according to the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3. The shootingprocess of FIG. 3 is started when the digital camera 100 is turned onand start-up is completed to be ready for shooting. This process isimplemented in such a manner that a program recorded in the nonvolatilememory 56 is loaded into the system memory 52 and the program isexecuted by the system control unit 50.

In S301, the system control unit 50 displays a through image (live viewimage, LV image) on the display unit 28.

In S302, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation forswitching the state where a subject can be observed through the finder76 when the LV button 78 is pressed. Specifically, when the finder 76 isan optical finder, the mirror is moved down and an optical path leadingto the image pickup unit 22 is blocked, so that the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28, and it is determined whether anoptical image is visible through the finder 76. When the finder 76 is anelectronic viewfinder, it is determined whether the destination wherethe LV image is displayed has been switched from the display unit 28 tothe display unit within the finder. When it is determined that the LVbutton 78 is pressed, the processing proceeds to S303. When it isdetermined that the LV button 78 is not pressed, the processing proceedsto S304. Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28 at the timing when the digital camera100 is turned on. However, the state where an object image is visiblethrough the finder 76 may be set first.

In S303, the system control unit 50 switches the state from a state inwhich the LV image is displayed on the rear surface of the display unit28 to a state in which an object image within the finder is visible.Specifically, when the finder 76 is an optical finder, the mirror ismoved down and the optical path leading to the image pickup unit 22 isblocked, so that the optical image is visible through the finder. Whenthe finder 76 is an electronic viewfinder, the destination where the LVimage is displayed is switched from the display unit 28 to the displayunit within the finder.

In S304, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shutterbutton 61 is half pressed, or whether the state of SW1 is obtained. Whenit is determined that the shutter button 61 is half pressed, theprocessing proceeds to S305. When it is determined that the shutterbutton 61 is not half pressed, the processing proceeds to S306.

In S305, the system control unit 50 performs an autofocus (AF) process.

In S306, the system control unit 50 determines whether the operation forterminating the shooting process is performed. The shooting process isterminated by turning off the digital camera 100, switching theoperation mode to the playback mode, or performing the operation fordisplaying the menu screen. When it is determined that the operation forterminating the shooting process is performed, the shooting process isterminated. When it is not determined that the operation for terminatingthe shooting process is performed, the processing proceeds to S304.

In S307, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shooting modeis set as the continuous shooting operation by the operation of the modeselection switch 60. When it is determined that the shooting mode is setas the continuous shooting operation, the processing proceeds to S308.When it is not determined that the shooting mode is set as thecontinuous shooting operation, the processing proceeds to S313.

In S308, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shutterbutton 61 is fully pressed, or the state of SW2 is obtained. When it isdetermined that the shutter button 61 is fully pressed, the processingproceeds to S309. When it is not determined that the shutter button 61is fully pressed, the processing proceeds to S304. FIG. 5 is a diagramillustrating, in chronological order, an eyepiece sensor detectionstate, a state indicated by a shooting instruction (SW2 is ON or not), ashooting state, a shooting state, and a display of images when shootingis performed in a state where a user is looking into the finder 76according to the present exemplary embodiment. The process of S308corresponds to start of capturing a first image in FIG. 5.

In S309, the system control unit 50 performs an N-th shooting process. Nis incremented as N=N+1 every time the process of S309 is performed.That is, the number N of captured images continuously increases aftershooting of second and subsequent images after the first image, unlessthe determination result indicates Yes in S310 described below. Thenumber N of captured image is recorded in the system memory 52. Notethat the AF process in S305 is not performed every time shooting isperformed, but instead shooting of second and subsequent images iscarried out based on the AF process performed before shooting of thefirst image. The process of S309 corresponds to a period between S308and S310 illustrated in FIG. 5. During this period, an image creationprocess for confirmation is sequentially performed (from the imageacquired by the image pickup unit), and is continued until the imagecreation process for the N-th captured image is finished. Note that theimage for confirmation can be displayed for a short period of timewithout improving the image quality as compared to the image displayedin the playback mode. This allows the user to roughly confirm the stateof the captured image.

In S310, the system control unit 50 determines whether the fully-pressedstate of the shutter button 61 is released, or whether SW2 is released.When it is determined that the fully-pressed state of the shutter button61 is released, the processing proceeds to S311. When it is notdetermined that the fully-pressed state of the shutter button 61 isreleased, the processing proceeds to S309.

In S311, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shutterbutton 61 is fully pressed, or whether the state of SW2 is obtained.When it is determined that the shutter button 61 is fully pressed, theprocessing proceeds to S309 to perform continuous shooting again. Whenit is not determined that the shutter button 61 is fully pressed, theprocessing proceeds to S312. In S310, when SW2 is turned off once andSW2 is turned on without turning off the SW1, the continuous shootingoperation is performed again. However, the continuous shooting operationstarted when the determination results indicates Yes in S311 is notrecorded after the previous continuous shooting operation, but insteadthe continuous shooting operation for the first image is started. Evenwhen the continuous shooting operation is continuously performed, thesetting of the AF process performed prior to the first continuousshooting operation is fixed.

In S312, the system control unit 50 determines whether the half-pressedstate of the shutter button 61 is released, or whether SW1 is released.When it is determined that the half-pressed state of the shutter button61 is released, the processing proceeds to S313. When it is notdetermined that the half-pressed state of the shutter button 61 isreleased, the processing stands by until SW1 is released.

In S313, the system control unit 50 performs a continuous shooting RECreview process (continuous shooting review display process). Thecontinuous shooting REC review process is described below with referenceto FIG. 4. When the continuous shooting operation is continuouslyperformed several times, the image captured in the last continuousshooting operation is displayed.

The process of S314 to S317 is not the continuous shooting operation,but is the process performed in the case of single shooting.

In S314, the system control unit 50 determines whether the shutterbutton 61 is fully pressed, or the state of SW2 is obtained. When it isdetermined that the shutter button 61 is fully pressed, the processingproceeds to S315. When it is not determined that the shutter button 61is fully pressed, the processing proceeds to S304.

In S315, the system control unit 50 performs a shooting process for oneimage.

In S316, the system control unit 50 determines whether the half-pressedstate of the shutter button 61 is released, or whether the state of SW1is released. When it is determined that the half-pressed state of theshutter button 61 is released, the processing proceeds to S317. When itis not determined that the half-pressed state of the shutter button 61is released, the processing stands by until SW1 is released.

In S317, the system control unit 50 displays the captured image capturedin the previous S314 on the display unit 28 for a predetermined periodT1 (REC review, display for confirmation after shooting). T1 representsa period of time, such as two seconds or 1.5 seconds.

Note that the determination as to whether the continuous shootingoperation is performed in S307 may be made prior to S304.

Next, the continuous shooting REC review process in S313 illustrated inFIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. This process isstarted when the processing proceeds to S312 illustrated in FIG. 3 (asreview display after continuous shooting). This process is implementedin such a manner that a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 isloaded into the system memory 52 and the system control unit 50 executesthe program. Note that when the continuous shooting operation iscontinuously performed a plurality of times in FIG. 3, a plurality ofimages captured in the last continuous shooting operation is displayedas images for confirmation in FIG. 4.

In S401, the system control unit 50 determines whether the eye proximitydetection sensor 77 detects an object approaching the sensor (eyeproximity is being detected). When it is determined that the eyeproximity detection sensor 77 detects an object approaching the sensor,the processing stands by until no approaching object is detected. Whenit is not determined that the eye proximity detection sensor 77 detectsan object approaching the sensor (approaching object is not detected),the processing proceeds to S402. The process of S401 corresponds toturning off of the eyepiece sensor after shooting is finished (afterS310) in FIG. 5.

In S402, the system control unit 50 performs a display preparationprocess (predetermined period T4). The process of S402 corresponds tothe period after S401 illustrated in FIG. 5. After completion of thedisplay preparation process (the image for confirmation can bedisplayed), the processing proceeds to the process for displaying theimage captured in S403. The time for the display preparation process is,for example, 0.2 seconds or 0.3 seconds.

In S403, the system control unit 50 determines whether the continuousshooting operation is performed in a state where the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28. When it is determined that theshooting operation is performed in the state where the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28, the processing proceeds to S404. Whenit is not determined that the eye proximity detection sensor 77 detectsan object approaching the sensor (shooting is performed in a state wherethe optical image is visible within the optical finder, or a state wherethe LV image is displayed through the electronic viewfinder), theprocessing proceeds to S405. Note that the determination in S403 may bemade based on whether shooting is performed in a state where the eyeproximity detection sensor 77 is not detecting any object approachingthe sensor.

In S404, the system control unit 50 displays the first captured imagecaptured in the continuous shooting operation on the display unit 28 fora predetermined period T2. T2 represents a period of time such as onesecond or 1.5 seconds. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating, inchronological order, an eyepiece sensor detection state, a stateindicated by a shooting instruction (SW2 is ON or not), a shootingstate, and a display of images according to the present exemplaryembodiment. The process of S308 corresponds to start of the firstshooting in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating, in chronologicalorder, an eyepiece sensor detection state, a state indicated by ashooting instruction (SW2 is ON or not), shooting state, and a displayof images when shooting is performed without using the finder 76according to the present exemplary embodiment. Steps up to S310 are thesame as those in FIG. 5. Since shooting is performed in a state wherethe user is not looking into the finder, or in a state where the user isviewing the LV image of the display unit 28, it is less likely that theuser may overlook the first captured image even when the first capturedimage is displayed on the display unit 28. Accordingly, as illustratedin FIG. 6, in S404, the first image is displayed on the display unit 28for the same period of time as the display time for the second andsubsequent captured images.

In S405, the system control unit 50 displays, on the display unit 28,the first captured image captured in the continuous shooting operationfor a predetermined period T3 which is longer than the predeterminedperiod T2. T3 represents a period such as two seconds or three seconds.The process of S405 corresponds to a display time for an image 1illustrated in FIG. 5, and illustrates that the image 1, which is thefirst captured image, is displayed for a period of time longer than adisplay time for an image 2 and subsequent images. At a timing when anobject approaching the finder 76 is not detected, or at a timing whenwithdrawal of the user's eyes from the finder 76 is started, it ishighly likely that the user is not viewing the display unit 28, or onlya part of the display unit is visible, like when the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28 and the continuous shooting operationis performed. Accordingly, after the user recognizes that the display ofthe first captured image is started (REC review is started) byincreasing the display time for the first captured image, it is highlylikely that there is a time for confirming the first captured image evenwhen a line of sight is moved to the display unit 28. On the other hand,if the display time is set to be the same as the display time for thesecond captured image and subsequent images, an eye-non-approachingstate may be obtained after the withdrawal of the user's eyes isstarted, and when the user can properly view the image on the displayunit 28, the display of the first captured image may be completed andthe second or third captured image may be displayed. In S405, thedisplay of the first captured image for T3, which is longer than thedisplay time for the second and subsequent images, reduces thelikelihood for the user to overlook the first captured image. In S401,after the eye approaching the finder is not detected, the first capturedimage is immediately displayed after the display preparation process.However, if the display is started after a lapse of a certain period oftime so as to prevent the user from overlooking the first capturedimage, there is a possibility that the user may feel that the responseis slow. If the user shifts from the eye approaching state to the eyewithdrawal state and the user is waiting until the captured image forconfirmation on the display unit 28 is displayed but the image is notdisplayed immediately, the user may feel that the eye withdrawal stateis not recognized by the camera, or it takes a long time for displayingthe image. Therefore, it is preferable to immediately display thecaptured image for confirmation after completion of shooting. However,if the display is started immediately after completion of shooting andthe display of the image is immediately switched to the display of thesubsequent image, there is a possibility that the user may overlook thefirst captured image, and the first captured image is displayed for alonger period of time.

In S406, the system control unit 50 displays an (n+1)th captured imageafter the second captured image on the display unit 28 for thepredetermined period T2. The n-th captured image used herein refers to acaptured image displayed immediately before. Specifically, when thecontinuous shooting operation is performed in the state where the useris looking into the finder 76, the first captured image is displayed fora period of time longer than that for the second and subsequent capturedimages. When the continuous shooting operation is performed while theuser is viewing the display unit 28 on the rear surface of the camera,the first captured image is displayed for the same period of time asthat for the second and subsequent captured images. In other words, thedisplay time for the first captured image is changed based on whethershooting is performed in the state where the user is looking into thefinder 76 when the continuous shooting operation is performed.

In S407, the system control unit 50 determines whether the capturedimage displayed in the previous S406 is the N-th captured image, or thelast captured image in the continuous shooting operation. When it isdetermined that the captured image is the N-th captured image, thecontinuous shooting REC review process is terminated. When it is notdetermined that the captured image is the N-th captured image, theprocessing proceeds to S406 to display the subsequent captured image. Indisplaying the captured image for confirmation in the continuousshooting operation, the display is switched to the subsequent capturedimage automatically without a user's operation, for example, after alapse of a predetermined period of time after the display of the firstcaptured image. In other words, images captured in the continuousshooting operation are automatically sequentially displayed (can besequentially displayed).

Note that during the display of the images captured in the continuousshooting operation, when the user operates the operation unit 70, it ishighly likely that the user attempts to perform another operation.Accordingly, the continuous shooting REC review process is terminatedeven if the display of the N-th captured image is not terminated inresponse to the operation on the operation unit 70 (during display ofthe captured image prior to the N-th image).

According to the exemplary embodiments described above, the continuousshooting operation performed by the user using the finder, the capturedimage makes it possible to reduce the likelihood of overlooking thecaptured image.

A modified example of the present exemplary embodiment will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C. FIGS. 7A to 7C each illustrate amodified example in which the user performs the continuous shootingoperation in the state where the user is looking into the finder 76.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating that REC review is started when thedetermination result in S311 of FIG. 3 indicates Yes, or when SW1 isturned off (state where the shutter button 61 is not pressed) after thecontinuous shooting operation. When the determination result in S311indicates Yes, the display preparation process corresponding to S402 inFIG. 4 is performed and then the display of the first captured imagecorresponding to S405 is performed for a period of time longer than thatfor the second and subsequent captured images. In the modified exampleof FIG. 7A, REC review for the continuous shooting operation is startedwhen SW1 is turned off, without depending on the determination as towhether the eye proximity detection in S401 of FIG. 4 is performed. Themodified example of FIG. 7A can also be applied to an image pickupapparatus which does not include the eye proximity detection sensor 77.After SW2 is turned on to start the continuous shooting operation, SW2is turned off and the ON state of SW1 is maintained, thereby enablingthe user to start REC review of the continuous shooting operation byturning off SW1 at a desired timing. The REC review of the continuousshooting operation is not performed unless SW1 is turned off. However,when the user is looking into the finder 76, the user operates thedigital camera 100 while gripping and holding the digital camera 100.Accordingly, the ON state of SW1 cannot be held in the middle ofshifting from the eye approaching state to the eye-non-approachingstate, and thus it is highly likely that the user may unintentionallyturn off SW1. However, according to the modified example illustrated inFIG. 7A, the display time for the first captured image is long, whichmakes it possible to reduce the likelihood for the user to overlook thefirst captured image.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating that REC review is started when thedetermination result in S310 of FIG. 3 indicates Yes, i.e., SW2 isturned off, and an instruction for terminating the continuous shootingoperation is made. Upon completion of the continuous shooting operation,the display preparation process corresponding to S402 of FIG. 4, andthen the display of first captured image corresponding to S405 isperformed for a period of time longer than that for the second andsubsequent captured images. In the modified example of FIG. 7B, RECreview of the continuous shooting operation is started when SW2 isturned off, without depending on the determination as to whether SW1 isturned off in S311 of FIG. 3, and the determination as to whether theeye proximity detection in S401 of FIG. 4 is performed.

The modified example of FIG. 7B can also be applied to an image pickupapparatus which does not include the eye proximity detection sensor 77.

Note that the display time for the first captured image in the modifiedexample may be set to be longer than that when the display of the firstcaptured image is started when the eye proximity is not detected in S401of FIG. 4. Even if the user's eyes are not approaching the finder, thedisplay of the image on the display unit 28 that has not been displayedduring shooting is started, so that the user can recognize that RECreview has started.

FIG. 7C illustrates a case where the REC review is started in thedisplay unit in the finder when the finder 76 is an electronicviewfinder. In the exemplary embodiments and modified examples describedabove, the display unit 28 displays the REC review. However, the RECreview may be displayed on the display unit within the finder. In themodified example illustrated in FIG. 7C, the display preparation processcorresponding to S402 of FIG. 4 is performed after the continuousshooting operation is completed at a timing 701 and the creation of theimage for confirmation is completed. Upon completion of the displaypreparation process, the display of the first captured image is startedat a timing 702. At this time, the user's eyes are approaching thefinder and the user visually confirms the display unit within thefinder, and the display time for the second and subsequent capturedimages is set to the same time T2. As illustrated in a timing 703, whenthe user's eyes withdraw from the finder during the display on thedisplay of the second captured image on the display unit within thefinder (i.e., determination result in S401 of FIG. 4 indicates NO), thepredetermined time is extended from T2 to T3 for displaying the secondimage. Thus, the likelihood for the user to overlook the second imagewhen the image is switched from the second image to the third imageduring the time when the user's eyes withdraw from the finder isreduced. Further, as shown in a timing 704, even when it is detectedthat the user's eyes are approaching the finder, the predetermined timeis extended from T2 to T3 for displaying the fourth captured image beingdisplayed. Referring to FIG. 7C, when the state of eye proximity to thefinder 76 is changed during the REC review, the display time for thecaptured image being displayed is increased. Accordingly, the likelihoodof overlooking the captured image is reduced even when the user changesthe eye approaching state during the display. Note that when the userchanges the eye approaching state after the user confirms the capturedimage being displayed, the display time for the image to be subsequentlydisplayed may be increased, instead of increasing the display time forthe image being displayed. Specifically, for example, when four thirdsof the predetermined period T2 has elapsed, the predetermined time forthe captured image being displayed is not changed from T2 even when theeye approaching state is changed, and the predetermined time for thecaptured image to be subsequently displayed may be increased to T3. Thedisplay time for the captured image being displayed and the display timefor the captured image to be subsequently displayed may be increased.

According to the modified examples described above, the likelihood forthe user to overlook the captured image when the eye approaching stateis changed in the REC review after shooting in the continuous shootingoperation can be reduced.

Note that start of measurement of the display time for the firstcaptured image may be delayed by a period designated by the user inadvance in the continuous shooting operation in the state where the useris looking into the finder. That is, the first captured image isswitched to the second captured image after a lapse of a period which isdesignated by the user +T3. At this time, the first captured image mayor may not be displayed during the period designated in advance by theuser.

Among the images captured in the continuous shooting operation, thepredetermined time for displaying a predetermined number of capturedimage, such as the first image, the second image, or the third image,may be increased, or the predetermined time for displaying the first tothe predetermined number of captured images may be gradually shortened.Specifically, for example, the display time for the first image is threeseconds, the display time for the second image is 2.5 seconds, thedisplay time for the third image is 2.0 seconds, the display time forthe fourth image is 1.5 seconds, and the display time for the fifthimage is one second.

Note that start of measurement of the predetermined time for displayingthe first captured image may be delayed also when the continuousshooting operation is performed in the state where the LV image isdisplayed on the display unit 28. In a case where the user shifts thedisplay unit 28 to be held to easily view the display unit 28 after theuser holds the digital camera 100 for capturing images after thecontinuous shooting operation, if the display time for the firstcaptured image is the same as the display time for the second andsubsequent captured images, the user may overlook the first capturedimage during the time when the user is shifting the display unit.However, the user can confirm the captured image by delaying the startof measurement of the predetermined time for the first display, withoutoverlooking the captured image in the continuous shooting operation.

The display time for the captured image in the first shootingillustrated in S316 of FIG. 3 may be equal to or longer than the displaytime for the second and subsequent captured images in the continuousshooting operation. In the case of one image capture, it is highlylikely that the user wishes to confirm the details of the capturedimage, the details of the captured image can be confirmed more easilywhen the display time for one captured image is set to be longer thanthat in the continuous shooting operation. In the case of the continuousshooting operation, the user wishes to confirm the entire image of aplurality of images obtained in the continuous shooting operation, orthe motion of a subject, and the user can rapidly confirm the capturedimage when the display time is shorter than that for one captured image.

The above-described predetermined time is merely an example, and may beset by the user, or the time T2 or T3 may be adjusted depending on thenumber of continuous shooting operations. That is, since the time fordisplaying all captured images increases as the number of capturedimages increases, T2 or T3 may be set as a short period of time.Alternatively, the display time may be set to be constant even when thenumber of captured images increases, and only a predetermined number ofimages, such as 15 or 20 images, may be displayed.

Note that the above-described various control operations are executed bythe system control unit 50, but instead may be executed by one piece ofhardware, or the overall apparatus may be controlled by sharing theoperations by a plurality of pieces of hardware.

The present disclosure has been described above based on preferredexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to these specific exemplary embodiments, andvarious modes are included in the present disclosure without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure. Further, the exemplary embodimentsdescribed above are merely examples of the present disclosure, and theexemplary embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

The exemplary embodiments described above illustrate a case where thepresent disclosure is applied to the digital camera 100. However, thepresent disclosure is not limited to these examples and can be appliedto any image pickup apparatus, as long as the image pickup apparatus iscapable of performing the continuous shooting operation and includes afinder. Specifically, the present disclosure can be applied to a mobilephone terminal or portable image viewer including a finder, a printerapparatus including a finder, a digital photo frame, a music player, agame console, an electronic book reader, and the like.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

The present disclosure may also be implemented by executing thefollowing process. That is, software (program) for implementing thefunctions of the exemplary embodiments described above may be suppliedto a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and acomputer (or a CPU, an MPU, etc.) in the system or apparatus reads out aprogram code and executes the program code. In this case, the programand the recording media storing the program may constitute the presentdisclosure.

According to the present disclosure, in display of an image forconfirmation after shooting after continuous shooting is performed, thelikelihood of overlooking the image can be reduced.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized bycomputerized configuration(s) of a system or apparatus that read out andexecute computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fullyas a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputerized configuration(s) may comprise one or more processors andone or more memories (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), microprocessing unit (MPU)), and may include a network of separate computersor separate processors to read out and execute the computer executableinstructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided tothe computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. Thestorage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, arandom-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage ofdistributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc(CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flashmemory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2017-019037, filed Feb. 3, 2017, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a finderunit configured to enable visual confirmation of an object image; adisplay unit located outside of the finder unit; and a control unitconfigured to control a display time for a first image acquired in afirst shooting operation to be longer than a display time for a secondimage acquired in a second shooting operation in a case where aplurality of images is sequentially displayed on the display unit as areview display after continuous shooting is performed, the plurality ofimages being captured in the continuous shooting for continuouslyperforming a plurality of shooting operations including at least thefirst shooting operation and the second shooting operation in responseto a shooting instruction, the second shooting operation being performedafter the first shooting operation.
 2. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein in the continuous shooting, a plurality ofimages is continuously captured for a period in which the shootinginstruction is made.
 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the continuous shooting further includes a third shootingoperation and a fourth shooting operation to be performed after thesecond shooting operation, and the display time for the second image isequal to each of a display time for a third image acquired in the thirdshooting operation and a display time for a fourth image acquired in thefourth shooting operation.
 4. The image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a switching unit configured to be able toswitch an operation mode to a playback mode for playing back an imagerecorded in a recording medium, wherein in the playback mode, in a casewhere the plurality of images captured in the continuous shooting isdisplayed by automatically sequentially switching the plurality ofimages, the display time for the first image is equal to the displaytime for the second image.
 5. The image pickup apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein in the review display, the plurality of images capturedin the continuous shooting is displayed by sequentially switching theimages without a user's operation.
 6. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to be ableto display an image captured by an image pickup unit as a live viewimage, and the control unit performs the control when the continuousshooting is performed in a state where a live view image is notdisplayed on the display unit.
 7. The image pickup apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein the control unit performs the control in such amanner that the display time for the first image is equal to the displaytime for the second image in the review display when the continuousshooting is performed in a state where the live view image is displayedon the display unit.
 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first shooting operation is a first shooting in thecontinuous shooting, and the second shooting operation is a secondshooting in the continuous shooting.
 9. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the control insuch a manner that an image to be displayed on the display unit isswitched to the second image upon a lapse of a first period after thefirst image is displayed on the display unit in the review display aftercontinuous shooting, and the image to be displayed on the display unitis further switched to a third image upon a lapse of a second periodshorter than the first period after the second image is displayed, thethird image being acquired in shooting performed after the secondshooting operation.
 10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the control unit performs the control in such a manner that theimage is switched to a fourth image upon a lapse of the second periodafter the third image is displayed, the fourth image being acquired inshooting performed after the third image is captured.
 11. The imagepickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an approachdetection unit configured to detect an object approaching the finder,wherein the control unit performs the control in such a manner thatdisplay of the first image on the display unit in the review display isstarted if the approach detection unit detects no object approaching thefinder after the continuous shooting.
 12. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a shooting instruction unitconfigured to be able to make a shooting instruction, wherein thecontrol unit performs the control in such a manner that display of thefirst image on the display unit in the review display is started whenthe instruction of the shooting instruction unit is released after thecontinuous shooting.
 13. The image pickup apparatus according to claim1, further comprising a shooting preparation instructing unit configuredto be able to make a shooting preparation instruction, wherein thecontrol unit performs the control in such a manner that display of thefirst image on the display unit in the review display is started whenthe instruction of the shooting preparation instruction unit is releasedafter the continuous shooting.
 14. The image pickup apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the control in such amanner that measurement of the display time for the first image in thereview display is started after a lapse of a predetermined period aftercompletion of the continuous shooting.
 15. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the finder is an optical finder.
 16. Theimage pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shooting mode isselectable from a continuous shooting mode for performing at leastcontinuous shooting and a single shooting mode for performing shootingonce in response to a shooting instruction regardless of a period of theshooting instruction, and when the continuous shooting mode is selected,the control is performed in such a manner that the display time for thefirst image is longer than the display time for the second image in acase where the plurality of images captured in the continuous shootingis sequentially displayed on the display unit as a review display afterthe continuous shooting is performed.
 17. The image pickup apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the display time for the second image inthe review display after the continuous shooting is shorter than adisplay time for an image in the review display after shooting in thesingle shooting mode.
 18. The image pickup apparatus according to claim1, wherein the finder is an electronic viewfinder, the image pickupapparatus further comprises an approach detection unit configured todetect an object approaching the finder, and the control unit performsthe control in such a manner that a display time for an image beingdisplayed or an image to be subsequently displayed is extended when adetected state of the approach detection unit changes during the reviewdisplay after the continuous shooting.
 19. A control method of an imagepickup apparatus including a finder unit configured to enable visualconfirmation of an object image, and a display unit located outside ofthe finder unit, the control method comprising: controlling a displaytime for a first image acquired in a first shooting operation to belonger than a display time for a second image acquired in a secondshooting operation in a case where a plurality of images is sequentiallydisplayed on the display unit as a review display after continuousshooting is performed, the plurality of images being captured in thecontinuous shooting for continuously performing a plurality of shootingoperations including at least the first shooting operation and thesecond shooting operation in response to a shooting instruction, thesecond shooting operation being performed after the first shootingoperation.
 20. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program forexecuting a control method of an image pickup apparatus including afinder unit configured to enable visual confirmation of an object image,and a display unit located outside of the finder unit, the controlmethod comprising: controlling a display time for a first image acquiredin a first shooting operation to be longer than a display time for asecond image acquired in a second shooting operation in a case where aplurality of images is sequentially displayed on the display unit as areview display after continuous shooting is performed, the plurality ofimages being captured in the continuous shooting for continuouslyperforming a plurality of shooting operations including at least thefirst shooting operation and the second shooting operation in responseto a shooting instruction, the second shooting operation being performedafter the first shooting operation.